Swimmer’s 900-mile journey along California coast ends in Coronado – San Diego Union-Tribune

Swimmer’s 900-mile journey along California coast ends in Coronado  San Diego Union-Tribune

Open water swimmer Catherine Breed has completed Swim California, an approximately 900-mile swimming expedition from the Oregon border to Mexico. Open water swimmer Catherine Breed has completed Swim California, an approximately 900-mile swimming expedition from the Oregon border to Mexico. Her finish concluded nearly four months of swimming through the Pacific’s cold water, strong currents, heavy seas, and shifting weather, alongside a mission to connect people with the ocean and the work needed to protect it. Breed, a 33-year-old Pleasanton native, began the expedition on July 1. She completed the route in stages, supported by a boat and crew, with GPS waypoints linking successive swims and observers documenting her progress.

The expedition is believed to be the first completed staged swim of California’s full coastline, with formal ratification subject to review of its supporting records. She completed the final 2 1/2 miles of her swim on Monday morning. A ceremonial finish took place in Coronado around 3 p.m. “For months, I measured my world in the next few miles,” Breed said. “This was harder than I expected, and there were days when I was exhausted and overwhelmed. My team saw those moments and met me with so much patience, encouragement, and care. Every message from someone following along, every person who came out to cheer, helped me get back in